Antenna: News in English (PM), 97-12-30

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From: Antenna Radio <http://www.antenna.gr> - email: antenna@compulink.gr

Last Updated: Tuesday, 30-Dec-97 12:33:58

CONTENTS

[01] Turkey

[02] Tsohatzopoulos

[03] Gavdos

[04] Kalas

[05] Mount Athos

[06] Goran Bregovitch

[07] All Sports Camp

[08] Santa Claus

[09] Basketball

[10] Soccer

[01] Turkey

Even on Christmas Day, Turkish warplanes harassed Greece - there were 36 Turkish violations of Greek airspace.

And Ankara is planning military manoeuvres in the Aegean early in the new year.

Turkey has submitted plans to Greece, requesting that waters from the northeatern to the southeastern Aegean be approved for military exercises from January 2nd to the 23rd.

Greece is asking Ankara to change the locations of four of the eight exercise areas.

Area number one takes in the area near the Limnos airport - Athens says that's unacceptable, and Turkey has changed it.

But in three other areas, four, five, and six, Ankara has refused to change its plans. Greece objects that those areas are east of the Andros firing range, and include Greek isles - Kalogiri and Melani.

Greek defence officials believe Turkey will back off at the last minute, as it has done in the past.

Defence minister Akis Tsochatzpoulos says the latest round of provocations from Ankara - which include the Christmas Day airspace violations - are a product of Turkish leaders' anger over the European Union's decision earlier this month to exclude their country from the next round of EU expansion.

The EU cited Turkey's poor relations with Greece and Cyprus, and its feeble human rights record, and told Ankara to mend its ways on all three fronts.

But instead, Turkey has toughened its stance. According to the Turkish daily "Millyet", Turkish military leaders have issued a secret order which states that Greece is foreign threat number one. The paper says the statement bears the signature of prime minister Mesout Yilmaz, and argues that special attention must be paid to Greece, and that in an eventual conlict with Greece, Turkey would probably also find itself at war with Syria.

Turkish president Suleiman Demirel has also contributed to the aggressive tones emanating from Ankara.

Demirel says Greece has quote ignored Turkey's constant appeals to be careful, and will pay a heavy price for that unquote.

The Turkish president also lambasted the European Union's decision to exclude his country from the next round of EU enlargement, and to go ahead with accession talks with Cyprus.

Demirel says that if the EU-Cyprus talks start, as they are programmed to do in a few months, then the consequences will be negative for bi-communal talks on the divided island.

Turkish-Cypriot leader Raouf Denktash is following the same line as his masters in Ankara. He says the Turkish-Cypriot leaders will begin joining Turkish delegations taking part in international conferences and summits. So the Turkish-Cypriots' voice can be heard, he maintains.

Greek deputy foreign minister Yiannos Kranidiotis says Greece intends to protest Turkey's latest round of aggression to international organisations. And he noted how the latest sabre- rattling from Ankara proves how important the country's militalry leaders are in Turkey's political life. The military leaders play a negative role, he added, and are trying to use nationalism to help them gain hegemony over the region.

Turkey's behaviour, concludes Kranidiotis, will only further isolate it from the international community.

New Democracy's press spokesman condemns Turkey's provocative behaviour. Such behaviour, he adds, shows Turkey is incapable of behaving like a European nation.

[02] Tsochatzopoulos

As he did last year, Tsochatzopoulos spent time with the Greek troops taking part in the UN peacekeeping mission in Bosnia.

There was plenty of good cheer as minister and men shared Yuletide good will.

There was also a sombre note. The crew of the minister's C-130 could not forget their five comrades who lost their lives in a C-130 accident in central Greece just over a week ago. The crew were on their way to help in the search for a Ukrainian airliner that had crashed in the mountains of central Greece.

There was a farewell song and dance for the lost crew.

The song runs, "Eagles die in the air".

[03] Gavdos

With its eyes on oil, Turkish hawks have now included Crete and Gavdos in their list of Greek islands they want.

Oil has been located between the two islands. The director of the mineral exploration department at the University of Crete has alerted the government to the existence of the black gold.

Greece is just a step away from establishing definitively that there's oil between the islands of Crete and Gavdos.

The area pointed out on the map by professor Theodoros Markopoulos is where there are pockets under the seabed which hold oil deposits.

Further away from Gavdos, there are likely to be deposits of hydrocarbons.

This find is the best explanation of why Turk fighters continually violate Greek airspace, especially over Gavdos.

Markopoulos says Turkey wants to make the point that in international waters, anyone can search for and exploit mineral wealth.

[04] Kalas

Over the Christmas holiday, the students visited a number of museums and art exhibits in Thessaloniki.

The children traversed through snow covered mountains at a height of 3 thousand 200 meters in search of their roots.

During their museum visits, they had the opportunity to view up close the immortal image of the man their tribe has kept alive for thousands of years.

One of their teachers said, " It's exciting, visiting Thessaloniki, the city of Alexander the Great". Adding, "We saw the grave of his father, Philip. We feel very close to Alexander the Great, that we belong to him".

The thirteen students are following a program of Greek language and culture at the University of Ioannina, sponsored by the ministry of education.

[05] Mount Athos

The exhibit houses "auto-chromic" photos from 1913 to 1918 by French photographers Passer and Couville depicting the religious, architectural and cultural uniqueness of Mount Athos.

Those visiting the exhibit will have the opportunity to see photos depicting the everyday life of the monks, their cells and the monasteries they spent their lives in.

Evangelos Hekeamoglou, historian and writer said, "It's the first time in Greece, that we see auto- chromic pictures of Mount Athos and of Greek land".

Many of the photos included in the exhibit come from the collection of Albert Kan, entitled 'Archives of the World' which are on permanent display at the Albert Kan Museum in France.

Jeanne Bosoleya, curator of Albert Kan museum, explained Kan's philosophy, "Kan used photos as a

way to perpetuate images. He was interested in freezing forever in time day- to-day life and activities of the world, before they disappear".

The exhibit will remain open until January 25th.

[06] Goran Bregovitch

The show entitled "The silence of the Balkans", taking place Tuesday evening, will take viewers on a unique trip through the Balkans on an imaginery train. Which at every stop will revive the legends and folktales of the Balkan Countries.

Panos Theodoridis, president of the organization says their will be lots of music, dance, video, theatre and loads of surprises. Adding, "Centered around the Balkan fairytales the imaginary excursion culminates in Thessaloniki being given the title of honour".

Referring to preparations for the event which started last summer, Bregovitch said, "I am very pleased. "The energy and the talent of several people in one place at one time is incredible". Adding, "I believe everyone will feel this energy. I've got a good feeling".

Over three-hundred artists and technicians from the Balkan countries will be participating in the two- hour event. Giorgos Dalaras is expected to make an appearance.

The show will be broadcast live to most Balkan countries.

[07] All Sports Camp

The camp is available free of charge to childrens ranging from 8 to 14 years.

Olympiakos's basketball players Michael Hawkins and Giorgos Lygniatis, accompanied by former technical expert and coach of Panionios Makis Den- drinOs were on hand to teach the kids the tricks and secrets of basketball.

While World Track-and-Field champion Katerina Koffa and sprint runner Angelos Pavla-kAkis, who excelled in the men's 100 meters in the World Track-and- field championships, gave the children tips on their favorite sport.

The Panellinios's program will be held until January 4th.

[08] Santa Claus

Old Saint Nick, accompanied by thirty bike riders from the Panattican Motorbike committee visited the PIKPA Kurdish refugee camp in Palia Pendeli in Northern Athens.

The Panattican committee organized the event bringing food and clothing as well as Christmas presents for the youngsters.

Taking time out from his busy schedule Santa said, "It's a totally new look for me. The members of nine motorbike clubs thought it would be a grand idea for me to join them on a motorbike. Adding, "We wanted to give a little joy to those

who need it most".

The festivities included complimentary bike rides as well as dancing.

Seven hundred Kurdish refugees live in the PIKPA camp, in the hopes of finding a better life.

[09] Basketball

The defending Greek and European champs lead 36-29 at the half, and move on to the victory with forward Dimitris Papanikolaou contributing six points. That's Pap's first appearance with the club this season. He ended a contract dispute last week.

In other games, Panathinaikos and Aek stay in second and third place respectively with easy triumphs. And Panionios, Iraklio, Papagou, and

Peristeri are all singing Jingle Bells after their victories.

[10] Soccer

The game included Christmas surprises for fans at the stadium as well as the families of the Greek players.

A car and two motorbikes were given away in a draw for fans at the stadium.

After the match, in the presence of Pao president Giorgos Vardinoyiannis and other members of the management, hundreds of little friends of Pao received Christmas presents.

(c) ANT1 Radio 1997

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